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    <title>Deana Carter</title>
    <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter</link>
    <description><![CDATA[DEANA CARTER RELEASES THE CHAIN ON OCTOBER 9TH

NEW STUDIO RECORDING FEATURES GUEST PERFORMERS
INCLUDING KRIS KRISTOFFERSON, WILLIE NELSON, 
DOLLY PARTON AND SHOOTER JENNINGS

Santa Monica, CA - Award-winning singer/songwriter/performer Deana Carter unveils The Chain, her fifth studio record October 9th on Vanguard Records.

Each of the 12 songs on The Chain has a special importance to Deana, who personally chose material that had a great impact on her early life. She took the same care in recruiting collaborators for the project, assembling a group of musicians who influenced her as an artist -- none more greatly than her father, legendary session player Fred Carter, Jr, who performs throughout the album. "Ever since I knew that music was going to be my life's path, I've wanted to pay tribute to my dad and to the artists who were so good to me and my family. The camaraderie between them, and the way they took our family and made it part of their families, was so unique that I wanted to recapture it for a little while," states Deana.

The Chain features duets with Deana and some of country music's royalty: Kris Kristofferson (Help Me Make It Through The Night), Dolly Parton (Love Is Like A Butterfly), Jessi Colter (I'm Not Lisa), Willie Nelson (On The Road Again), George Jones (He Thinks I Still Care) and John Anderson (Swingin'). The CD also includes two of music's rising stars, Shooter Jennings on "Good Hearted Woman", the song made famous by his father, the great Waylon Jennings, and Harper Simon on "The Boxer," a nod to his dad, Paul Simon who plays guitar on this track. The Chain also features stunning solo recordings of Deana performing such classics as "Lay Lady Lay", "The Weight", "Crying" and "Old Man".

Produced and arranged by Deana Carter, The Chain is a musical feast and celebration of one's past and influences. 
A multi-platinum recording artist, Deana Carter burst into the music scene with the blockbuster album Did I Shave My Legs for This? (1996) that produced four No. 1 hit singles. Her additional releases included Everything's Gonna Be Alright, Father Christmas, I'm Just A Girl, Greatest Hits and The Story Of My Life.  She has performed on countless television shows and network specials and yielded a Golden Globe and Grammy nomination for the song Once Upon A December from the animated film Anastasia.  
Deana is based in Los Angeles where she resides with her son, Gray Hayes.  She is a spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation.

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    <item>
      <title>Love is Like A Buterfly</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter/audio/177101</link>
      <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:55:00 -0700</pubDate>
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    </item>
    <item>
      <title>On The Road Again</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter/audio/177098</link>
      <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:51:24 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/deanacarter/audio/177098</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Happy Labor Day!</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/792077</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Hey cyber peeps!  It&apos;s nice to be back on the site, touch base, and check in on what&apos;s up!I&apos;m at home (in the garage/my haven!) getting ready to head to Yosemite for a show with Phil Vassar this weeke...]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:19:35 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/792077</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Check me out at attblueroom.com/music!</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/735420</link>
      <description><![CDATA["Check out an exclusive Deana interview and&nbsp; performance in the AT&amp;T blue room!.....See it all at&nbsp; attblueroom.com/music"]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:12:31 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/735420</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Back in L.A.</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/671822</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi everyone! &nbsp;We&apos;re back in LA after an amazing trip to the East Coast. &nbsp;I played in Norfolk, VA (right on the Bay!) with Pure Prairie League and The Temptations!!! It was amazing. &nbsp;It ...]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:13:00 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/671822</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Bloggin&rsquo; away...</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/593368</link>
      <description><![CDATA[New Blog! Hello everyone!  Hope this Spring is treating you well.  It is REALLY hot in LA right now!  It&apos;s been above 90*, closer to 100* in some parts for a few days now.  It&apos;s still as beautiful as ...]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:15:34 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/593368</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Last week of Feb....YIKES!</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571751</link>
      <description><![CDATA[OK.  Is anyone else freaked out that it&apos;s that last friggin&apos; week of February??  Man, are those lil&apos; sands of time just trickling thru the hourglass.Hope life&apos;s been good to you this week.  I&apos;m here i...]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:08:25 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571751</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Happy Easter!</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571750</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Hello out there!  I got caught up answering some mail from you guys last week & forgot to update the blog & bulletin.  Hope everyone&apos;s doing well & looking forward to a fantastic Easter weekend.  I lo...]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:08:24 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571750</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Listen to some new tracks, tomorrow July 24th</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571749</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Howdy!You&apos;ve heard about &apos;The Chain&apos; -- the new album Deana&apos;s been working so hard on...she&apos;s ready to share a track or two with you! Listen in to KKGO this Tuesday morning (July 24) for the world pre...]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:08:24 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571749</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Thoughts on SXSW</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571748</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Being on stage with Hayes (at the end of Willie&apos;s set) to sing with Willie was amazing. &nbsp;He had on his &apos;bandana &amp; Willie braids&apos; (a gift from the crew). Micky Rafael gave him a harmonica and ...]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:08:22 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571748</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Hellew St. Paddy-Waddy's Day!</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571747</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Hellew!  Sorry it&apos;s been almost 2 weeks since the last thoughts, but I&apos;m making this new album & have been quite crazed, between that & being with little Haysie.Hope this finds you all alive & well & ...]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:08:20 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571747</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Well.....lookie here!</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571746</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Hello my pretties!  Hope your spring was great, since it just whizzed on by & we&apos;re staring at summer all of a sudden!  How did that happen??  I&apos;m still in the studio, in the final phases of some stre...]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:08:19 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571746</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Premiere of "Help Me Make It Through The Night"</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571745</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Help Me Make It Through The Night
I wanted to approach this song with as much simplicity, focus, and a sort of &apos;lullaby&apos; effect in the production as possible.&nbsp; It&apos;s an amazing song, so there are ...]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:08:18 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571745</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Crying</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571744</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Crying
I am so proud of these tracks and the work that went into trying to find a creative way to approach this classic song.&nbsp; It has had many amazing incarnations from various artists and I want...]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:08:18 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571744</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Premiere of "The Weight"</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571743</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Weight
Levon Helm and my Dad go back about as far as you can.&nbsp; They each played with Ronnie and Dale Hawkins back in the day.&nbsp; I believe that&apos;s where the Dylan connection came in origina...]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:08:17 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571743</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>On The Road Again...</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571742</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi everyone.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Hayes and I are having an awesome time on the road with the band on the bus. &nbsp;We have an amazing group out here and it&rsquo;s always a treat to be doing shows with Willi...]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:08:17 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/571742</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Chain- Song Forwards</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/deanacarter/posts/text/243187</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Song Forwards

Crying
I am so proud of these tracks and the work that went into trying to find a creative way to approach this classic song.  It has had many amazing incarnations from various artists and I wanted to produce my own version of it, from the heart.  My dad (Fred Carter, Jr.) worked with Roy for years early in his career and Roy's wife at the time (Claudette) spent many hours with my young mother (19 years old) in the 'band house' while my father and Roy were on the road.  They all shared a monumental time in music and the exciting dawn of amazing careers!

Barbara Orbison (Roy's widow) is a very dear friend and has been very supportive to me through the years, as well.  There is SO much of this album that is about 'family' and this track feels like an 'ode' to those great icons that have not only influenced many genres, but are very dear to me and my family and have withstood the test of time.

Help Me Make It Through The Night
I wanted to approach this song with as much simplicity, focus, and a sort of 'lullaby' effect in the production as possible.  It's an amazing song, so there are many ways that I could have directed it, however...I felt that simple was best, allowing its iconic author and lyrics to shine.  Dad had produced Sammy Smith in her career and Kris spent a little time at our house, so I always hoped to include him in a future project and this one couldn't be more perfect...hence the choice of this song.  Dad's guitar solo is 'SO him'.  It's his special style and I love it.

At my house, I've had a framed picture of Kris Kristofferson in the foyer, Willie Nelson in the Kitchen, Levon in the office, and Dad, along with various other family photos, as well as a needle point of Jesus with a thorny crown gazing up at Heaven in the living room, for a couple of years now.  On some premeditated, subconscious level, I guess, it has been my way of 'keeping the faith' and 'following my dream' and following in the footsteps of those who've done the same.

Kris' performance was bone chilling that day in the studio.  He was my first 'guest' to appear and I absolutely sat there at the console weeping, as I heard his vocals through the speakers.  It was the first moment that I could have pinched myself to realize..."This is actually happening?  How lucky am I?!", followed by a toast with a fine Pinot Noir.

Love Is Like A Butterfly
I was a huge fan of the 'variety shows' on television in the 70's, particularly Donny & Marie, The Carol Burnett Show, Sonny & Cher, and various others.  One of my favorites was 'Dolly', where I watched Dolly sit on her stool on the stage and play this song.  I sweated a lot trying to figure out which song of hers to do, because her talent and catalogue are so vast.  I tried some of her other songs, including 'I Will Always Love You', and gave up quickly, since Whitney Houston's amazing version would send any artists tucking their tails between their legs!  This song, though, was always in my mind from her show and became a shoe-in when my Dad said he played on the original.  

When she came in the studio to do her vocals, I was SO excited.  Her voice through the speakers is so pure and soulful and I was in awe of what I was hearing.  She asked for my advice & suggestions & I foolishly sat at the console, blubbering.   I eventually snapped out of it & we had a great time.  She worked on it diligently, gave me lots of options, and I'm just so thrilled to have been blessed with another 'angel moment' in Dolly's presence.

The Boxer
The signature gut-string guitar lick on this song is my precious father.  The music that he made with Simon & Garfunkel during this era is still some of the best music ever created, in my opinion.  I've tried to get him to teach it to me (it's an odd tuning), but not much luck since my fingers aren't the same as his.

Dad and Paul play acoustic guitars on this song and Harper Simon, (Paul's son) sings with me, as well as adding some electric guitar.  I was concerned about singing the 'male' lyrics, but I just love the opening line, "I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told..." coming from a girl's lips!  God knows I've felt that way plenty of times!!  This song, along with all of the Simon & Garfunkel collections, takes me immediately back to a place of comfort and joy.

Lay. Lady, Lay
Another vocal dilemma of a chick singing male lyrics here, but I lovingly dove in, nonetheless.  Dad played on the original version as well.  I got to do a live show, opening for Bob Dylan not long after recording this, and he was such a sweet, charming, and kind fellow to me.  He made me feel like I was under his wing for the moment.  I hope this returns the favor!  What an amazing talent.

The Weight
Levon Helm and my Dad go back about as far as you can.  They each played with Ronnie and Dale Hawkins back in the day.  I believe that's where the Dylan connection came in originally.  Anyhow, I chose this song (not an easy choice due to the plethora of cool options from their records!) because I love the groove so much, and that groove is Levon to the core.  And this song lets all the guys shine so well.  

There was such a love for Levon & The Band in our house.  Still is.  When I was young, we drove from Nashville all the way up to Woodstock in our old "50's something" Cadillac Limo that my Dad had refurbished.  The seats pulled out of the floorboards and the gas tanks were in the tail lights (you had to push one of the lights to get it to flip up to reveal the 'gas-cap').  He used to love to pull up to full service and just say, "...uh, yeah.  Go ahead and fill'er up!"  Then we'd all die laughing while the attendant would pull on the license plate looking for the 'tank'.  He was working on the RCO Allstars record.  Levon's log house is on the cover. 

The last time I saw them all together (The Band) was at a tiny club in Nashville (328) quite a few years ago.  My brother and I went to their hotel and hung out in Rick Danko's room while we in search of Levon before the show.  Rick gave me a Band baseball cap, then signed it and kissed us both 'on our way'.  They rocked it, as always!  Definitely part of the family.

I'm Not Lisa
Supposedly, the original version of this awesome song was recorded at my Dad's studio, Nugget Records.  From there, it apparently went to L.A. and then around the world.  
Jessi Colter is such an amazing writer and gives an incredible performance on this version, as well as the original.  Rumor has it that a demo of this song found its way to a Waylon session that Dad and all the guys were on, and they were blown away, except...the tape had no name on it, so they were looking for this awesome creative young woman with the killer voice, killer song, who recorded this 'tape with no name'!  When they found out how gorgeous she was, well.....they were tripping all over themselves.  Then, she and Waylon made history!
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      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Sep 2007 22:06:17 -0700</pubDate>
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